Category: faith

From the time that the Church crisis began in September 2018, voices have called for the convening of a Pan Orthodox council to resolve the Church crisis in Ukraine. Orthodox primates such as Patriarch John of Antioch and Archbishop Anastasios of Albania have called for the convening of a council. Patriarch Bartholomew has repeatedly ruled out a council.

Two years ago, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem made an attempt to convene a council. In light of the denunciation of the actions of the Patriarch of Jerusalem by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the “council” was redefined as being a meeting or gathering. In total, six Orthodox Churches were gathered in Amman, Jordan under the auspices of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Plans have been announced for the convening of a council that would include no more than five local Churches to gather and this time the topic is not Constantinople’s intervention in Ukraine, but the establishment of a Russian exarchate in Africa on the territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

The five local Churches invited are the four ancient Patriarchates (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem) and the Church of Cyprus. There is respect and reverence that is due to the ancient Patriarchates which is why I do not believe the order of Churches in the dyptychs should ever be changed. The ancient Patriarchates were established by the fathers and the Ecumenical Councils and so are to an extent a part of tradition.

The ancient Patriarchates are entitled to maintain their places of honor at the top (or near the top) of the ranking of Churches. They are entitled to nothing more than that. The Church of Russia is the largest Orthodox Church. The Churches of Serbia, Bulgaria, Rumania, Georgia, and Greece are much bigger than the ancient Patriarchates and have much larger flocks.

Therefore, a council that excludes Churches that represent the overwhelming majority of Orthodox Christians is pointless. But then again Patriarch Bartholomew has no desire to convene a serious council that will seriously examine the Ukrainian crisis honestly. The plans to discuss the Russian exarchate in Africa is also an attempt to distract from Ukraine which is what started all the chaos.

No council can be convened that does not include the participation of all autocephalous Orthodox Churches. The Amman gathering in 2020 was flawed specifically because more than half of the Churches were not represented. Still, the Amman gathering was a noble first attempt to begin the process of getting plans for a council off the ground.

The plans for the upcoming gathering of the five Churches is not only flawed because it seeks to ignore the the universal Church. It is flawed because it is also being convened with less than honorable intentions. It is intent on attacking the Russian Church over Africa while ignoring the mess that Constantinople started in Ukraine.

A real council needs to be held that will represent the universal Church that lives in today’s reality. A council of the ancient Patriarchates and Cyprus is inadequate to address the Church crisis or any other contemporary issue. Patriarch Bartholomew would have the right to make his case in a council attended by ALL Churches as would the Russian Church.

Therefore, no Orthodox Christian can accept the forthcoming gathering and any decisions to be made with any seriousness.

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem has been raising the alarm about the dangers facing the Christian populations of the holy land. Activities from right wing Israeli settler groups appear to threaten the existence of Christians in the holy land. A show of support for the Jerusalem Patriarchate is coming from the Russian Church.

Patriarch Kyril of Moscow has expressed his support for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and has reacted to the recent message of the Patriarch by expressing the full support of the Russian Church. It should be remembered that the Russian government and Church played significant roles in saving the Patriarchate of Antioch from destruction. We have therefore a potential model for how relations between the Russian Church and the ancient Patriarchates should be conducted.

Jerusalem is enjoying warm ties with Russia. Jerusalem has always had warm ties with Russia. This can be seen by the references by priests in the Russian Church to Jerusalem as the “mother of Churches.” The Amman synod conducted two years ago under the auspices of the Patriarch of Jerusalem as a means of addressing the Ukrainian schism showed the Patriarch of Jerusalem as a statesman in Orthodoxy.

Jerusalem maintains the traditional Orthodox calendar. It is close with the Russians. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has a presence in the holy land and has always been friendly with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Jerusalem and Antioch have excellent relations with the Russian Church.

Constantinople and Alexandria could learn from Antioch and Jerusalem. The Russians respect the ancient status of Antioch and Jerusalem, as they do Constantinople and Alexandria. If the latter two were to be satisfied with their honorary statuses the schism could be healed.

Jerusalem and Antioch are respected because of their moral stances and the way they relate to other Churches (especially Moscow). Constantinople’s arrogance and Alexandria’s treachery have been very costly for those Patriarchal sees. They regain their honor when they regain their humility.

At a time when the world is in chaos from omicron and human suffering is increasing because of this pandemic and because of the pressure and strain from lockdowns and restrictions, the Orthodox Church is mired in ecclesiastical disputes. To be sure, Patriarch Bartholomew has the ultimate responsibility for the schism. But the Russian Church has escalated the crisis by creating an exarchate in Africa at the expense of the Alexandrian Patriarchate.

The Orthodox Church is the true Church. The problem is the world does not know this. The fact that the Church is in a near schism does not help matters and weakens its witness in the present world. Patriarch Bartholomew is not likely to be reasonable any time soon. The Russian Church could at least put a freeze on its activities in Africa pending an easing of the health crisis around the world.

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania has commented on the escalating division in Orthodoxy. The Archbishop has reminded us that he predicted with the passing of time the schism would more likely become permanent. Metropolitan Serapheim of Greece has also commented and suggested that the Russian Church should not consider Alexandria in schism as that local Church has not been condemned by a council.

Considering the great crisis that omicron poses the Churches might consider concentrating more on teaching the gospel at this time and leaving the crisis on the side temporarily. The Russian Church happens to be in the right but should suspend its African undertaking for the purpose of emphasizing the necessity of combating omicron and providing relief.

As a result of the pandemic, Orthodoxy has the opportunity to bring light in to a darkened world by practicing the gospel and sharing the faith with a suffering world. Furthermore, theologians should rise to the occasion to address the sins of science in the twenty first century. The funding provided by western scientists to the Wuhan lab raises moral questions that theologians and the Church generally must address.

The misbehavior of scientists is a challenge to faith. The Church should focus on confronting the scientific community for its crimes against humanity. Over five million people around the world are dead. Churches were closed two years ago, and might again conceivably close.

The opportunity is at hand to condemn the evils wrought by secular and anti Christian scientists and to provide witness of the light of Christ in a time of darkness. The Orthodox Church must come together at this crucial time.

Patriarch Bartholomew often discusses climate change and global warming. Perhaps he should take an interest in gain of function research and the catastrophic results it has had for man, God’s most favored creation? Perhaps all Orthodox Churches can also condemn the soft genocide against the Ughyurs?

The term “byzantine” is frequently used to denote intrigue and treachery. In Constantinople, factions schemed against one another and there were numerous Emperors that were murdered or blinded. The ugliness of the fallen world and the crimes perpetrated in the Empire of New Rome does not diminish the sanctity of religious life in Constantinople. Cathedrals and Monasteries were built, and holy fathers and saints continued to work for the glory of God throughout the Empire.

What are we to make of the intrigue and factionalism in Orthodoxy today? The Emperors could be excused to an extent because they resided in the secular world. Critics of Byzantium cite the intrigue in the Empire but let’s be serious. There is not a single civilization or country that has ever been exempt from the realities of a sinful and corrupt world. America for example has made it a practice to bomb and invade other countries.

The Russian Empire like its Byzantine predecessor had its own sins but this did not mean that the Russian Empire was not a force for good. The primates, hierarchs, and clergy of the Orthodox Church have left the secular world and so the kind of intrigue that was in many ways understandable in Byzantium, is not so understandable within the Church of God. What would the apostles and the fathers of the Church think today?

The blame for the present crisis in Eastern Orthodoxy lies with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Patriarchal invasion of the canonical territory of the Russian Church in 2018 is the source of all subsequent bitterness, instability, and factionalism that plagues Orthodoxy. As the rivalry between the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Russian Orthodox Church heats up, Patriarch Bartholomew watches with indifference.

It is with horror and revulsion that I have been watching the schism gradually widen. The members of the Russian Orthodox Church and its daughter Church in Ukraine are brothers and sisters in the lord. The Ukrainian faithful have been persecuted for the last several years because they refuse to abandon the canonical Church for an artificially created entity brought into being in order to satisfy secular politicians in Kiev and Washington.

I happen to love the great Church of Constantinople. It is with horror that I have watched the Ecumenical Patriarch work with the anti Orthodox establishment in Washington to hurt the Russian Church. The actions of Constantinople are shameful and deplorable.

We are seeing the Russian Church establish an exarchate in Africa at the expense of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. I have mixed views as to the appropriateness of this action. What is absolutely certain is that if Patriarch Theodore had not emulated the example of Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine then the Russians would not now be in Africa. It should be emphasized that the Russians have always respected the boundaries of the ancient Patriarchates and treated them with honor.

The Greek speaking Orthodox Churches have adopted policies that contravene Orthodox ecclesiology. The synod of the Church of Greece and the Archbishop of Cyprus for reasons still unverified followed the destructive path set by Patriarch Bartholomew. The entire Ukrainian affair is not about healing the Church schism in that country. It is about destruction.

What good has come from any of this? We have the estrangement of Constantinople from Moscow. The estrangement of Alexandria from Moscow. The estrangement of the Greek Churches from their sister Churches.

Even the reputation of Mount Athos has suffered because a few Abbots inexplicably joined Patriarch Bartholomew’s anti Russian campaign. This is destruction and madness. The only way out is through repentance and the convening of an ecumenical council.

This byzantine intrigue has to end. The Ecumenical Patriarch is universally recognized as “first among equals”. Beyond a “primacy of honor” he has no rights or privileges.

Based on the continued deterioration in inter Orthodox relations it is apparent that the most logical way to defuse this crisis is to depose Patriarch Bartholomew. This can only be averted through repentance on the part of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

The world has enough problems. Washington is provoking Russia again in Ukraine. The omicron variant is infecting people around the world. Transgenderism, infanticide, and gay radicalism are threatening the influence of Christianity in the western world.

The purpose of the Orthodox Church is to baptize the nations. The world is in darkness and needs the light of Jesus Christ. This inter Orthodox fighting is detrimental to the Church’s sacred mission.

The year 2021 was not a perfect year. It was however a much better year than 2020. Here is hoping that 2022 brings about the following,

1) The pandemic becomes an endemic meaning that covid will be like the flu. It will never go away but we will live normally. The media report conflicting information. The World Health Organization says the pandemic is on its way to becoming an endemic. Let’s hope the scientists do not move the goal post again and may we be able to live fully normal lives again.

2) The schism in Orthodoxy. May this be the year the Ukrainian schism is ended.

3) The Biden administration should come to its senses and leave Ukraine out of NATO. This is the basis for peace.

4) Last but not least. May this be the year that Cyprus was freed from the Turkish occupation.

The Russian Orthodox Church has received one hundred and two African priests into its omophorion. Hitherto, Africa has been recognized as belonging under the authority of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. The Russian Church has now established its own exarchate in Africa which is bound to create confusion and chaos.

Sometime in 2019, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria entered into communion with the fake church in Ukraine that calls itself “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”(OCU). Until 2018, the whole of Orthodoxy recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as the legitimate and canonical Orthodox Church. The UOC is an autonomous and self governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The problems were begun by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew when he intervened in Ukraine and brought together two groups of unordained and unconsecrated clergy pretending to be Orthodox bishops and priests. These two groups merged in December 2018 at a fake council under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarch and became what is now the OCU. A group led by a defrocked charlatan split from the OCU but that is another story.

Af first Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria supported the canonical Church of Ukraine (UOC). He urged the faithful of the canonical Church to remain within it and to remain loyal to the canonical bishops. After about a year, Patriarch Theodore reversed his stance and immediately entered into communion with the fake bishops of the OCU.

Some time ago, Orthodox priests in Africa asked the Russian Church to accept them as they were opposed to the uncanonical actions of Patriarch Theodore. The Russian Church initially hesitated fearing that the schism with Alexandria might be aggravated. Last summer, Patriarch Theodore concelebrated the liturgy with the leader of the OCU and this appears to have been the catalyst for Moscow’s decision to receive the African priests.

In September, the Russian Orthodox Church decided to establish an exarchate in Africa. Moscow has now proceeded to receive the African priests. Patriarch Theodore has lamented this decision of Moscow.

Patriarch Theodore should not be playing the victim. He knows full well why Moscow has established an exarchate in Africa. As mentioned above, Patriarch Theodore himself was once a supporter of the canonical Church in Ukraine. He cannot possibly be ignorant as to why Moscow is now in Africa. He is also not ignorant of the fact that he is in the wrong for establishing communion with the fake bishops of the OCU.

Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria can defuse the Church crisis as it pertains to Africa. He can and should publicly repent for establishing communion with the OCU. He should sever communion with the OCU and formally apologize to Patriarch Kyril of Moscow and Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev (the legitimate bishop of Ukraine).

If Patriarch Theodore were to reverse his decision on Ukraine it would not only defuse the crisis between Alexandria and Moscow it would set a precedent for the Church of Greece to reverse its own horrendous error in recognizing the schismatic OCU.

Stelios Kouloglu is a Greek member of Parliament representing the leftist Syriza Party. He has unwisely intruded into the controversy between Scientist Elias Mosialos and the Greek Orthodox Church. Mosialos provoked and offended Orthodox Greeks with a post on Facebook which ridiculed the Virgin Mary. Rather than apologize and bring the matter to a close, Mosialos responded with a bizarre statement indicating he does not understand Christianity or why Christians were offended.

That he is ignorant of Christian beliefs and is likely not a member of the Church is not for us to judge. This is his own business. The problem is his manner and arrogance. A well educated Scientist should have more important things to do than posting offensive and blasphemous pictures insulting the most Holy Theotokos.

Now we have the above mentioned Kouloglu comparing Orthodox Greeks with Al Quada and ISIS. The Syriza member of Parliament compared Greeks who are angry with Mosialos with the terrorists who perpetrated terrorist acts against French cartoonists of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in 2015. This is the typical stupidity of a representative of the contemporary left.

The left is trying to turn a buffoon like Mosialos into a victim and martyr. Do Christians not have the right to protest and be angry? Apparently, expressing anger is for Kouloglu no different than perpetrating terrorist acts. In this regard, it is clear that the Greek left is taking its talking points from radical leftists-secularists in America and Europe.

We are seeing the anti Christian hatred in America and Europe being imported to Greece. This demonstrates Syriza (like Pasok) is not a Greek political party but an internationalist one. It is true that their have been calls to fire Mosialos.

A resolution to this matter is simple. Mosialos should apologize. The Church should accept his apology and urge forgiveness. This is the Orthodox way. Mosialos should understand he is a Scientist and not a commentator. His job is not to express opinions on matters outside his chosen field.

He should retreat to his profession. He should also learn about the art of diplomacy. The bishops of Greece have other pressing matters to attend to and should avoid being provoked. As for Syriza, Orthodox Greeks should remember what Mr. Kouloglu thinks of them next time there is an election.

Thoughts and prayers to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who has covid. May the Patriarch be in the best of health. It has not been easy criticizing him over Ukraine but as an Orthodox Christian that is part of Constantinople’s flock it has been truly distressing to see a schism forming in Orthodoxy.

Best wishes to the Patriarch. May the Patriarch be stronger and may he reverse course on Ukraine and reconcile with his brother bishops in Russia and Ukraine.

Christ is born! Glorify him!. We have much to be thankful for this Christmas. The year 2021 was a major improvement over the horror of 2020. Yes, covid is still with us and the new variant called omicron is surging around the world.

But we are in a much better place than we were last Christmas. There have been no lockdowns and people are celebrating with family and friends once again. Most importantly, religious services are being held.

It remains to be seen what the next year will bring but some news reports indicate that the pandemic will become an endemic. Covid will be permanent but will be like the flu and people will live normal lives again. We can thank God for providing us with Doctors and Nurses who have worked hard to help the sick.

We can thank God that the past year brought us much greater freedom than we had last year. Let us pray to Christ our God, vanquisher of death that this pandemic will be eradicated with his divine birth. Orthodox Christians live in the world, but are not of the world.

We believe that Christ is God. All things are possible through him. There is no power greater than the power of faith. We are cognizant that we live in a fallen world and we are all sinners. What is not possible with man is possible with God.

Faith is the refuge of the follower of Christ. Throughout the centuries, Christians have overcome persecution, diseases and other evils. We ask the Saints to intervene on our behalf and to help us.

We ask the Evangelists and Apostles. Saint Luke comes to mind who in addition to being the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles was a Doctor. We have the example of Saint Justinian, Emperor of Constantinople who used the resources to the Empire to provide support for the population when plague struck in the sixth century and was resulting in the deaths of ten thousand people per day. We pray for the sick and the vulnerable, for the Doctors and all those working to alleviate the present crisis.

But in the end we hope for the divine intercession of he who was born in a manger because there was no room at the inn. Let us ask the Lord through prayer and worship for liberation from covid. Let us ask for the merciful intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Joseph.

Patriarch Bartholomew is making an appeal to the Turkish government to open the school of Halki which was closed fifty years ago. This is a gesture worthy of support. The closure of Halki constitutes an act of state sponsored discrimination and the controversies Patriarch Bartholomew presides over elsewhere does not relinquish the Turkish government from its responsibilities to respect religious freedom.

Patriarch Bartholomew would have served the Patriarchate better had he concentrated on the problems of his Church in Turkey. Had the Patriarchate not caused division over Ukraine and had the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America been in better condition, the fight for Halki (and Hagia Sophia) might have been waged with greater support and sympathy. The Patriarchate is right to accuse Turkey of violating religious freedom but the reality is that the Church of Constantinople is an accomplice to the violation of religious freedom of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Ukrainian authorities.

As has been pointed out previously on this blog, the Patriarch and the Archbishop of America have made a major error in aligning with the American foreign policy establishment. Whatever cooperation exists between Constantinople and Washington has not paid off for the Patriarchate. Hagia Sophia has been converted into a Mosque and Halki remains closed.

Patriarch Bartholomew’s American friends have not come to the rescue. It would appear that Washington has no interest in the Patriarchate beyond a common fight against Russia. This means Washington will do nothing on the Halki issue.

The Patriarchate should be more concerned about its destroyed image in Orthodoxy than in maintaining a fraudulent alliance with Washington. If the Patriarchate wants to survive in Constantinople, it must be restored as a bastion of Orthodoxy. This means disavowing its mad Ukrainian venture and reconciling with the Russian Church.